EU to query CIA ‘terror prisons’
Britain will write to the US government on behalf of the European Union over reports that the CIA has a number of secret prisons in Europe.
The Foreign Office said the government, as holder of the rotating EU presidency, will ask for clarification about the security services’ alleged use of terror camps to hold Islamic extremists.
Washington has so far refused to deny or conform the CIA’s use of so-called “black site” prisons in eastern Europe, Afghanistan, Thailand and other countries.
The action was decided at a meeting of EU foreign ministers on Monday, and comes after a number of member states have launched their own probes into the allegations.
Sweden has already begun an investigation into whether the CIA had used Swedish airports to transport prisoners, while Spain is looking into similar claims relating to Majorca.
The Washington Post first broke the story on November 2nd, claiming that the prison network was established nearly four years ago and used sites in eight countries.
In the wake of the story, a probe was set up by the parliamentary assembly of the Strasbourg-based Council of Europe.
Meanwhile, Tony Blair yesterday admitted the holding of terrorist suspects by the US in Guantanamo Bay in Cuba was “an anomaly” that had to be dealt with.
During questioning by MPs on the Commons liaison committee yesterday, the prime minister was asked about whether the Geneva convention governing the treatment of prisoners should be enforced in the camp. Reports suggest it is not.
In a carefully worded answer, Mr Blair said: “It is an anomaly and they can’t maintain it forever – it is obviously a difficult situation. Most people recognise that at some time this has got to be brought to an end.”
